As the result of an abrupt rule change, Reddit users found themselves without access to the /r/darknetmarkets subreddit. Reddit unexpectedly banned roughly 20 darknet market subreddits and another 20 unrelated subreddits. Reddit admins, in the past, reminded subreddit moderators about the rules before banning a subreddit. They gave the mods an opportunity to clean up the sub. This time, though, mods received no warning whatsoever.

Not only did Reddit kill the primary darknet subreddit, but they also knocked off several subreddits specific to individual darknet markets. They have banned market subreddits in the past, but nothing nearly as drastic as the most recent wave of bans. The new rule states that “users may not use Reddit to solicit or facilitate any transaction or gift involving […] drugs or any controlled substances.” Many refugees have moved to a darknet discussion platform called Dread.

The /r/Darknetmarkets replacement: Dread

After Reddit killed the majority of the darknet subreddits worth visiting (and even more subreddits not worth visiting), many former Reddit users flocked to Dread. Dead is a hidden service discussion platform in somewhat of a “Reddit setting.” The site was created by HugBunter, a security researcher known for disclosing vulnerabilities in many (now former) darknet markets.

Just a short time ago, Cointelegraph was releasing last materials dedicated to the recent BlockShow Asia 2017. However, today the conference team came back to announce BlockShow Europe 2018, its third big conference dedicated to discovering the hottest innovations, trends and sensations currently happening in both European and Global Blockchain scenes.

BlockShow Europe will be held from May 28-29 in Berlin. Why exactly so? According to the organizing team, Berlin was chosen as one of the main European centres for fintech and Blockchain development; apart from that, the large concentration of investments, startups, and innovative businesses makes the city an important hub for many trending industries. Last, but definitely not least is the spirit of the city itself. Anna Sergius, Head of Product &amp; Operations at BlockShow commented:

“Berlin is a European capital of Blockchain. Concentration of Blockchain people is enormous! […] It’s really easy to get along with the local community. Obviously, our next conference should happen here! For me, it’s a very casual city: it’s comfortable, convenient and full of freedom.”

With each new event, the BlockShow conference gets bigger. It is expected that BlockShow Europe 2018 will be visited by more than 3,000 attendees; over 150 companies from all over the world will exhibit their projects, and 120+ organizations and companies will provide their support for the event. That’s twice the size of the recent BlockShow Asia 2017, and about five times bigger than BlockShow Europe 2017.

CEO BlockShow CEO Addy Crezee said:

“The main mission which we are carrying through BlockShow, through the each event of ours – to bring value to the Blockchain community, to be helpful for any participant. We strive to yield benefits for startups, so they can get all the valuable connections they need among Blockchain celebrities and Investors, so they can establish partnerships they need. Blockchain projects can present themselves and and raise funds; those who want to make announcement to the world are absolutely welcome to make it from the stage of BlockShow!

We are bringing value – this is our main objective and guidance. And this is exactly why our events keep growing – to be useful for as many people from the ecosystem as possible.”

What to expect?

Throughout its existence, BlockShow seems to have worked out a perfect formula of what to offer to guests and participants. The upcoming event will be no exception: BlockShow Europe is going to reveal the most groundbreaking releases from various Blockchain companies, the most successful Blockchain-powered projects, as well as deep insights into how Blockchain is being utilized in cutting-edge global industries: IoT, AI, cybersecurity, trade and finance, and others. Furthermore, the conference will be welcoming representatives of Central Banks and governmental structures who will share their experiences and plans for harnessing the possibilities Blockchain can provide.

Top Blockchain experts around the globe claim 2018 to be the year of global Blockchain regulations, so there is no way BlockShow won’t raise this question at the main stage of the upcoming event. Our greatest aspiration is to reach balance and fairness for the global Blockchain law, and this is our way to contribute to one of the main Blockchain topics of 2018.

BlockShow Europe 2018 is going to bring together over 80 internationally recognized influencers and experts from banks, institutions, and other global sectors. For two days straight, they will be delivering their professional experience, knowledge and more. Take a look at some of them:

There is so much more that BlockShow Europe is preparing for its guests! Each year the organizing team strives to bring more ‘show’ to the whole concept of BlockShow, so there is no doubt this time the event will be packed with even more exhibition, expanded networking opportunities, and entertainment. Both of last year’s Startup Competitions were a truly exciting and fun experience; in 2018, the event will keep this tradition of discovering and rewarding the most promising Blockchain companies out there, so if you are a Blockchain entrepreneur- this opportunity is for you!

Don’t miss out

Starting today, registration for BlockShow Europe 2018 is officially open. Learn more and register for the conference at the official BlockShow Europe website. Of course, there is no way we will let you get away without a special offer – so don’t forget to use the code CTPOWER18 to save 30% off your purchase.

Using Dread is just as simple as using Reddit. The same mods from /r/darknetmarkets are there. Many marketplaces have the Dread equivalent of their own subreddit. Even though the site fits the needs of the Reddit refugees, HugBunter created Dread long before Reddit banned /r/darknetmarkets. (Reddit has been on a banning streak lately, though.) Dread is still in development but it currently serves as the replacement for a large percentage of the subreddit’s users.

Girlfriend of Alphabay Vendor ‘Courvoisier’ Faces Fraud Charge

Not long ago, we wrote about a guilty plea entered by a former Alphabay fraud vendor named Grant West. He used the name ‘Courvoisier’ on darknet markets. Southwark Crown Court heard how Grant hacked the websites of various shops on the internet and then sold the collected data on the darknet. Now, not long after Grant pleaded guilty, the same court charged his girlfriend with conspiracy to commit fraud.

The court accused the girlfriend of working with Grant in a case involving food delivery website ‘Just Eat’. Grant hacked the site and stole customer payment information. He combined the information with data from other sources and sold the so-called “fullz” on Alphabay. His girlfriend’s role in the scheme was not spelled out clearly. If nothing else, she was complicit in the crime and benefited from the money Grant made as a darknet vendor.

German Darknet Forum Owner Free While Waiting for Trial

Lucky aka “Luckyspax” cashed out some of his collected luck at a pre-trial detention hearing. The court, in an unprecedented and unexpected move, allowed the alleged owner of Germany’s largest darknet forum to leave jail and fight his case from the outside world. 31 year old Alexander U. allegedly owned and operated “Germany in the Deep Web,” a darknet forum taken down by German authorities in 2017. The forum hit the police’s radar after investigators found that the Munich gunman had purchased his murder weapon from a vendor on one of the site’s ‘for sale’ threads.

Authorities have compared this decision to a fictional decision by U.S. courts that would have allowed Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht to roam free while facing life in prison. German authorities fear the decision may set a precedent where suspected internet criminals get treated differently than those who committed the same crimes ‘in real life’. Members of the public who used the site have argued that Lucky never violated weapons laws by running the forum; the site functioned primarily as a discussion forum but some darknet vendors were allowed to sell their products on virtually unmoderated parts of the forum.

The entire case began in Florida and resembled the case against former Alphabay and Dream vendor EtiKing. A man in Florida received a package of “nasal spray” in the mail and told his fiancee that he needed it for a mold problem. Minutes later, the man had died. Florida law enforcement then launched an investigation into the vendor behind “Alpha Prescription Strength Nasal Cleaner and Decongestant.” After working with Wisconsin authorities and the U.S. Postal Service, investigators identified Schoenmann as the creator and darknet vendor now legally responsible for the Florida man’s overdose.

A Chicago city ID card designed primarily for illegal immigrants will be accepted as a valid form of identification to register to vote in Illinois, according to Chicago's city clerk.Chicago ID Card For Illegal Immigrants Accepted For Voter Registration